Just bought a new Strat. Really enjoy playing it...I retired my old Strat Plus.
Problem is G string is way out of tune as you proceed up the neck. Example at 14th fret its flat. I checked intonation using harmonics and its fine. I tried adjusting string length but to no avail.
What am I missing here...I find it annoying that I cant figure it out and that I am messing with it being brand new.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated..or I'm sending it back.

John

There are a couple of possibilities that you should look at before taking it back. Firstly, does it have a set of those Staggered Pole pickups where the G string magnet is raised up higher than the rest? (if you want to know more see discussion entitled "Is current trend of Staggered Pole Pickups a backward step?). If so, you may find that if it is set too high so that it is close to the string, it will create magnet pull and make your string out of tune at the frets all the way up the neck. The other possibility which is a little less likely, is that you have a duff string which isn't perfectly round, as this too would create a similar effect. I would put my money on the pickups being set too high, just lower them a little and test it then.

Regards,

Martin.

PS. Let me know if it sorts it.

Wouldnt too high pickups pull the string sharp?

Even longer shot for it to effect that far up the neck is the nut saddle. It would have to be intolerably high to affect that high up the neck, and it would pull the string sharp not flat.

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No no and no

It would pull the note sharp I believe , although I looked to be sure and the magnet is a good piece away from string, the D is a lot closer. I have adjusted the saddle length and it seems to always be the flat.
I have not measured string length to 12 fret yet but will tomorrow.


hhhmm

John

I would take it back if you bought it at a local guitar store. If not, checked the nut slot on the G string. Make sure it is tilted back toward headstock a bit and the slot isn't damaged.

Can you do complete setups? Has the guitar been setup?

You perhaps need to quantify how inaccurate it is here. First see how accurate your tuner is. Then ensure your strings are completely stretched in and snug on the tuners if they are new. If your tuner has an auto mode and shows accuracy then you should be able to measure each note as you play it.

For purposes of the pickups. Measure their heights on both sides and lower all of them down further away from the strings to rule out that problem.

Tune the guitar completely to standard pitch with open tuning and do some bends on each string at different places and see how accurate the tuning is still. If it goes out of tune here you have other issues.

Once it's stable then check harmonic intonation and then the fretted note at the 12th on each string, then check the intonation by fretting the notes again with 'as little pressure as possible' on the string.

Then play each note starting at the first fret on the problem string and record the variance. You should be able to deduce what on that string is different to the others.

My experience is that the lower the action (string height) is on the guitar the better intonation is. If the guitar goes flatter towards the bridge does it go sharper towards the neck? Changing fret wire sizes can make players press too hard on the notes and cause sharps.




Nut only really affects open notes or behind the note buzz in some cases.
 
 

I would agree with this. Staggered pole pieces are high on the G-string. Check the string height on that pole piece.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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